The Differences Between Male and Female Hair Loss

Male & Female Hair Loss

Men and women are very similar but also very different. This is true with hair loss as well. The most common cause of hair loss in men and women is called androgenetic alopecia.  Androgenetic alopecia is most commonly known as male or female pattern baldness. This type of hair loss typically follows the same pattern and is caused by a hormone known as DHT (dihydrotestosterone). For men, the hormone is a conversion of testosterone. For women, it is a conversion of estrogen. The hairs on the top of the scalp are the follicles that are affected by the DHT and will fall out.

The similarities end there though, and the differences between how men and women lose hair mean that we need a completely different strategy to treat each person’s hair loss.

The Differences Between Male and Female Hair Loss

Male Pattern Baldness

For men, the pattern begins with the receding of the frontal hairline. Men with hair loss will see the hair in the temporal areas start to thin and eventually go bald. The central forelock area in the very middle of the hairline will be next. These hairs will start to thin, and eventually the entire frontal hairline will start to creep back with hair fall and balding.

The next phase of male pattern baldness is where the hair in the crown starts to fall out. The hair loss patient will start to notice thinning and eventual baldness in the back of the scalp on the crown area.

As the hair loss starts to enter the advanced stages, the hair loss in the crown as well as the receding hairline will meet in the middle and leave the entire top of the scalp bald. The hairs along the side and back of the head will always remain because they are resistant to the DHT. That is why those follicles are used in a hair transplant procedure.

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The Differences Between Male and Female Hair Loss

Female Pattern Baldness

Just like men, women lose hair because of DHT, but they lose it in a completely opposite pattern. In most cases, women start to lose hair in the middle of the head and then the loss spreads out to each side towards the ears. Women will usually start to notice hair loss where they part their hair. This area will start to get wider as the hair loss advances.

Some women, however, may have what is called frontal hair loss and begin to lose hair in the very frontal hair line before it starts to advance within the part of their hair.

Some women with more advanced stages of hair loss may even start to lose hair along the sides of the head above their ears or at least have very thinning hair.

Hair Restoration Options

The top 3 treatments for both men and women are either finasteride or dutasteride to block the DHT and therefore drastically slow down the hair loss. Minoxidil helps reverse the effect of miniaturization and thinning hair and therefore is also a great option to help fight hair loss. And last but not least is PRP (platelet-rich plasma). This treatment has been showing amazing results for both male and female pattern baldness and is a great treatment for adding thickness and hair quality to any remaining hair follicles.

The only way to cure baldness though is with a hair transplant. The strategy is different for everyone, so if you are unsure what is the best solution for you, contact the Toronto Hair Transplant Clinic.

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